Top 5 Concept Cars From 2013 Detroit Auto Show

Once again it's time for auto companies to show off what they have up their sleeves at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Car manufacturers gave a glimpse of how the industry will progress inside the Cobo Center this week. One of the highlights attendees look forward to the most at the Detroit Auto Show are the futuristic concept cars. There were plenty on display and we list the top 5 that make us cross our fingers they'll make it to production. Make sure to check them out when the public show opens this Saturday (January 19).

5

Lincoln MKC

Ford's luxury Lincoln brand has a compact crossover SUV concept called the MKC on full display at the annual auto event. The exterior is very clean with distinct lines along the vehicle. The interior is no slouch either, featuring high quality leather and wood trim that sparkles (but not in the 'Twilight' kind of way). The platform is based off of the recently redesigned Ford Escape and is expected to share the same 2.0-liter 231-horsepower and 1.6-liter 173-horsepower EcoBoost 4-cylinder engines. The combination of luxury aesthetics and great gas mileage lands the Lincoln MKC at number 5 on our Top 5 Concept Cars list.

4

BMW i8

German luxury automaker BMW showed off a more complete version of its i8 concept design at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. The vehicle keeps the spirit of other BMW roadsters but in a sustainable hybrid form. A 131 horsepower electric motor can be found under the hood powering the front wheels, while a 223 horsepower 3-cylinder gas engine is linked to the rear wheels. Don't let the notion of the i8 being a hybrid fool you into thinking speed was sacrificed. The coupe can go from 0-62 in less than 5 seconds.

3

Ford F-150 Atlas

Ford wasn't about to sit back and let GM steal their truck thunder. The Dearborn-based company unveiled the F-150 Atlas concept in grand fashion, lowering the vehicle from the ceiling of Joe Louis Arena on Tuesday (January 15). The Atlas' front end looks beefier compared to the current model F-150, with more emphasis on the grill. The concept model included an adjustable spoiler on the back of the truck, but it's unknown if that will make it to the final design. The F-150 Atlas is expected to be released in Fall of 2014.

2

Hyundai HCD-14 Genesis

Korean auto giant Hyundia seems to be hinting at the future of their high-end vehicles with the HCD-14 Genesis concept. The car certainly turned a lot of heads after it was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show. The blocky grill and rear-hinged suicide doors give the sedan an Aston Martin-like look. The interior is even more stunning and futuristic. The HCD-14 utilizes eye and gesture tracking technology in lieu of traditional dash buttons and knobs. While it may take some time before an actual production model Genesis adopts this bold form, the HCD-14 could be a sign of what's to come from Hyundai in the premium class segment.

1

Acura NSX

Imagine a car that Batman's rich alter ego Bruce Wayne would drive and the Acura NSX concept is what should be in your head. A model was introduced at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, but this version seems to have been tweaked. The grill and wheels have undergone revisions and the Simple Sports Interface control system is designed to reduce clutter. A 3.5-liter V6 engine will be joined by three electric motors, with the front wheels being powered by two of them. While no solid release date was given for the NSX, a production-ready model should arrive sometime in 2015. Hopefully it retains most if not all of the design from the current concept, as the sleek aesthetics are what helped the Acura NSX top our Best Concept Cars from the 2013 Detroit Auto Show list.

Did We Get It Right?

What do you think of our list? Let us know in the comments section below. Make sure to check out all the concept cars at the 2013 North American International Auto Show at the Cobo Center in Detroit January 19-27.